Method and Apparatus for Automatically Repeating Alarms and Notifications in Response to Device Motion

ABSTRACT

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) is programmed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors from which the user&#39;s activity may be inferred. When one or more alarms on the device are temporarily disabled or ignored, they may be automatically restored when sensor data indicates a change in the user&#39;s activity. The restoration of alarm functionality may be accompanied by a repeat of notifications missed or not responded to during a certain period prior to the sensed change in user activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to personal electronic devices. Moreparticularly, it relates to the alarm and notification functions ofsmartphones.

A smartphone is a mobile phone built on a mobile operating system andhaving advanced computing capability and connectivity. The firstsmartphones combined the functions of a personal digital assistant (PDA)with a mobile phone. Later models added the functionality of portablemedia players, compact digital cameras, pocket video cameras, and GPSnavigation units to form one multi-use device. Many current smartphonesalso include high-resolution touchscreens for input and web browsersthat display standard web pages as well as mobile-optimized sites.High-speed data access may be provided by Wi-Fi and/or Mobile Broadband.

Wi-Fi is a widely-used technology that allows an electronic device toexchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computer network,including high-speed Internet connections. The Wi-Fi Alliance definesWi-Fi as any “wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are basedon the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11standards”. However, since most modern WLANs are based on thesestandards, the term “Wi-Fi” is used in general English as a synonym for“WLAN”.

A device that can use Wi-Fi (such as a personal computer, video-gameconsole, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) can connect to anetwork resource such as the Internet via a wireless network accesspoint. Such an access point (or “hotspot”) typically has a range ofabout 65 feet (20 meters) indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspotcoverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls thatblock radio waves or as large as many square miles—this may be achievedby using multiple overlapping access points.

Mobile broadband is the term used for wireless Internet access through aportable modem, mobile phone, USB wireless modem, or other mobiledevices. A smartphone is basically a cellular telephone with built-inapplications and Internet access. In addition to digital voice service,current smartphones provide text messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, andvideo playback and calling. In addition to their built-in functions,smartphones can run myriad free and paid applications, turning thecellphone into a mobile personal computer.

In addition to radio transmitters and receivers for interacting withcellular telecommunications systems, many smartphones have additionalsensors that provide input to their various systems. For example, AppleInc.'s iPhone® 5 smartphone includes at three-axis gyro, anaccelerometer, a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor.

The iPhone display may respond to a number of sensors. A proximitysensor deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device isbrought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery powerand to prevent inadvertent inputs from contact with the user's face andears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which inturn saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientationof the phone and changes the screen accordingly, allowing the user toeasily switch between portrait and landscape mode. Photo browsing, webbrowsing, and music playing support both upright and left or rightwidescreen orientations.

Certain smartphones have a “do not disturb” mode. When the “do notdisturb” mode is activated (e.g., via a Settings menu), the phonesuppresses most forms of communication—phone calls, text messages,alarms, social media notifications, and the like. When this mode isenabled, the phone will not light up or vibrate at all, so the user canget through a meeting or go to bed without being disturbed by theoutside world. However, all of those notifications may get captured andappear in a “Notification Center” when the phone's display is turned onby the user.

The user may configure the “Do not disturb” feature to function on apredefined schedule, or may simply turn it on and off as needed. Theuser may also specify certain contacts—sometime designated as “VIPs”—whoare allowed to get through to the user even if the phone is in “do notdisturb” mode.

In certain implementations, when a call comes in, the user can choose toanswer or ignore it, as usual, or may immediately reply with a textmessage. The user may also set the smartphone to remind him or her aboutthe call later—either at a specific time, or when leaving the currentlocation (as determined from the phone's location sensors).

Various options may allow the Do Not Disturb settings on a smartphone tobe further customized. For example, an option for “Repeated Calls” mayallow activation of a mode wherein whenever someone calls back a secondtime from the same number within a certain time interval, the secondcall will not be silenced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A processor-based personal electronic device (such as a smartphone) isprogrammed to automatically respond to data sent by various sensors fromwhich the user's activity may be inferred. One or more of the sensorsmay be worn by the user and remote from the device. A wirelesscommunication link may be used by the device to obtain remote sensordata. In certain embodiments, data from on-board sensors in thedevice—such as motion sensors, location sensors, ambient light sensors,and the like—may also be used to deduce the user's current activity.

Various embodiments allow a processor-based personal electronic device(such as a smartphone) to dynamically institute or cancel notifications(e.g., reminders and alarms) based on device motion. One exemplary usescenario is when a number of messages (e-mail, SMS, phone, or the like)are received during the time a user is away from their phone (inferredfrom a sensed lack of motion by the smartphone). When the smartphone ispicked-up (as may be inferred from sensor data), reminders may begenerated so that the user will see all the notification activity duringthe time they were away from the device.

In certain embodiments, a change in motion state of a device triggerscertain actions by the device. By way of example, a first motion statewherein the device rhythmically moves up and down in small displacements(such as might be sensed by a device stored in the pocket or purse of auser who is walking) may change to a second motion state wherein thedevice is picked up by a user and moved in a substantially single motionof greater displacement. The change of state from first motion state tosecond motion state may be used to automatically retriggerunacknowledged notifications generated during the period of time thedevice was in the first motion state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a processor-based device

FIG. 2A is the first portion of a flowchart of a process according toone embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2B is the second portion of theflowchart shown in FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a simplified functional block diagram ofillustrative electronic device 100 is shown according to one embodiment.Electronic device 100 could, for example, be a smartphone, personalmedia device, portable camera, or a tablet, notebook or desktop computersystem. As shown, electronic device 100 may include processor 105,display 110, user interface 115, graphics hardware 120, device sensors125 (e.g., proximity sensor/ambient light sensor, accelerometer and/orgyroscope), microphone 130, audio codec(s) 135, speaker(s) 140,communications circuitry 145, image capture circuit or unit 150, videocodec(s) 155, memory 160, storage 165, and communications bus 170.

Processor 105 may execute instructions necessary to carry out or controlthe operation of many functions performed by device 100 (e.g., such asthe processing of data obtained from device sensors 125). Processor 105may, for instance, drive display 110 and receive user input from userinterface 115. User interface 115 can take a variety of forms, such as abutton, keypad, dial, a click wheel, keyboard, display screen and/or atouch screen. Processor 105 may be a system-on-chip such as those foundin mobile devices and include one or more dedicated graphics processingunits (GPUs). Processor 105 may be based on reduced instruction-setcomputer (RISC) or complex instruction-set computer (CISC) architecturesor any other suitable architecture and may include one or moreprocessing cores. Graphics hardware 120 may be special purposecomputational hardware for processing graphics and/or assistingprocessor 105 perform computational tasks. In one embodiment, graphicshardware 120 may include one or more programmable graphics processingunits (GPUs).

Image capture circuitry 150 may capture still and video images that maybe processed to generate images. Output from image capture circuitry 150may be processed, at least in part, by video codec(s) 155 and/orprocessor 105 and/or graphics hardware 120, and/or a dedicated imageprocessing unit incorporated within circuitry 150. Images so capturedmay be stored in memory 160 and/or storage 165. Memory 160 may includeone or more different types of media used by processor 105, graphicshardware 120, and image capture circuitry 150 to perform devicefunctions. For example, memory 160 may include memory cache, read-onlymemory (ROM), and/or random access memory (RAM). Storage 165 may storemedia (e.g., audio, image and video files), computer programinstructions or software, preference information, device profileinformation, and any other suitable data. Storage 165 may include onemore non-transitory storage mediums including, for example, magneticdisks (fixed, floppy, and removable) and tape, optical media such asCD-ROMs and digital video disks (DVDs), and semiconductor memory devicessuch as Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), andElectrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM). Memory 160and storage 165 may be used to retain computer program instructions orcode organized into one or more modules and written in any desiredcomputer programming language. When executed by, for example, processor105 such computer program code may implement one or more of the methodsdescribed herein.

An electronic device such as device 100 may receive inputs from on-boarddevice sensors 125 which sensors may be of the types described,above—i.e., proximity sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, ambient lightsensors and location sensors. In addition, it may receive signals and/ordata from remote sensors via communication circuitry 145. Such remotesensors may be worn by the user of the device—e.g., wrist motionsensors, pulse rate sensors, breathing rate sensors, and the like. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that processor 105 ofsystem 100 may be programmed to receive input data from the sensors anddeduce from that data the current activity of the user. The activity ofthe user may be used to automatically select one or more states (or“settings”) of the device.

EXAMPLE 1

Referring now to FIG. 2, a process according to one particularembodiment is shown in the form of a flowchart wherein a user of device100 (which may be a smartphone) activates the Do Not Disturb function(or state) of the device prior to taking a 45-minute nap.

The process may begin at 200 with the device displaying a Do Not Disturb(DND) activation dialog box requesting a desired duration of the DNDstate. At process box 210, the user selects the DND state “on” for aduration of X minutes (X=45 in this example). The device enters the DNDstate by suppressing alarms and notifications which would otherwiseactivate during the 45-minute period and starts a 45-minute timer. Thealarms and/or notifications may be audible and/or tactile. At diamond212, the device monitors its built-in motion sensors to determinewhether it is motionless (as might be expected if it were placed on anightstand, headboard, bedside table or the like near a sleeping user).If no motion is detected (“No” branch at 212), the device checks the DNDperiod timer at 214 to determine whether the DND duration set by theuser has been reached. If the duration period has concluded (“Yes”branch at 214), the process continues to box 228 (see FIG. 2B) at whichpoint the DND state is deselected and, any notifications received duringthe DND period are resent (at 230) to alert the user of the suppressednotifications. The process may then conclude at 232 with a reversion tothe normal state of the device.

By way of example, consider a situation wherein a user sets the DNDstate for a 45-minute nap, but awakens after sleeping for 30 minutes andpicks up device 100 (e.g., his or her smartphone) from a bedside tableto determine the time of day from the built-in clock function of device100. In this scenario, motion of the device would be detected at diamond212 whereupon a first timer (“TIMER1”) would be automatically started(at 216) and a second timer (“TIMER2”) would also be automaticallystarted (at 218). The purpose of TIMER1 and TIMER2 is to determine theduration of the detected motion. In this example, the user is merelychecking the time of day and may return the device to its restingposition on the bedside table after realizing that he or she may go backto sleep for an additional 15 minutes. In such a case, the period ofmotion may be expected to be relatively short. By way of example only,the illustrated process uses a 3-minute period to determine whether thedevice is being actively used by the user or has merely been (briefly)checked by the user.

After initially detecting motion (at 212) and starting TIMER1 and TIMER2the device again checks for motion at 220. If no additional (orcontinuing) motion is detected (“No” branch) at 220, a determination ismade a 222 whether TIMER2 has reached the 3-minute mark. If not (T2<3;“No” branch at 222), the device returns to monitoring for motion at220). If, on the other hand, TIMER2 exceeds 3 minutes—i.e., the devicehas not been further moved for 3 minutes—(“Yes” branch at 222), theprocess may return to decision diamond 214 for a determination ofwhether the DND period has expired. If not (“No” branch at 214) theprocess repeats. If the DND period is up (“Yes” branch) at 214, theprocess continues to box 228 (see FIG. 2B) at which point the DND stateis deselected and, any notifications received during the DND period areresent (at 230) to alert the user of the suppressed notifications. Theprocess may then conclude at 232 with a reversion to the normal state ofthe device.

In another scenario, the user awakens after sleeping for 30 minutes andpicks up his or her device from the bedside table and begins activelyusing the device—i.e., does not return the device to its resting placeon the bedside table but continues to hold and manipulate the device. Inthis case, the additional (or continuing) motion of the device may bedetected (“Yes” branch at 220) which leads, at process box 224, to arestart of TIMER2—i.e., TIMER2 is reset to zero. At 226, the device maydetermine whether TIMER1 has reached the 3-minute mark. If not (T1<3;“No” branch at 226), the process returns to monitoring for additionalmotion at 220. If, however, the device has been in motion for more than3 minutes—i.e., is being actively used—TIMER1 will exceed 3 minutes(“Yes” branch at 226) and the process may continue to box 228 (see FIG.2B) at which point the DND state is automatically deselected and, anynotifications received during the DND period are automatically resent(at 230) to alert the user of any suppressed notifications. The processmay then conclude at 232 with a reversion to the normal state of thedevice.

The above-described process permits a user to briefly pick up his or hersmartphone to check the time of day (or other indications) withouttriggering notifications. However, more prolonged use of the deviceautomatically returns it to an active state (DND off) and triggersnotifications.

In yet other embodiments, the device may (additionally) monitor for userinputs to detect active use of the device, and, in response,automatically deselect the DND state or remind the user that the DNDstate is active and present the user with the option of deselecting theDND state.

EXAMPLE 2

In certain embodiments, a device may use data from on-board motionsensors to detect that it has been stationary for a period of time andre-trigger notifications sent during that period when the motion sensorsdetect motion—such as a user picking up the device.

In this way, a user might put down his or her smartphone on a dresserand take a lengthy shower or bath. During this time, one or moremessages, e-mails, and other electronic messaging and wireless digitalmessaging services with attendant notifications (audible and/or tactile)are received (and may be repeated). However, the user does not hear thenotifications (or repeats). The user then gets dressed quickly and putsthe smartphone in his or her pocket without realizing that messagenotifications were missed. By using one or more built-in motion sensors,the device may re-trigger the notifications first made during the periodof inactivity when the user picks up the device.

EXAMPLE 3

As discussed above, sensor data (motion, orientation, acceleration, andthe like) may be used by a processor-based device to infer the activityof the user. A change in activity may be used as a criterion forre-triggering notifications and reminders.

An exemplary scenario for such an embodiment may be a message receivedwhile the device is in a motion corresponding to walking—e.g., in apurse or backpack. When the device is later lifted by the user (adetectably different motion than walking), reminders and notificationsannounced during the walking period may automatically be regenerated andannounced (sounded, displayed or the like). In certain embodiments,repeated notifications may be limited to unacknowledged notifications.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, they are not intended to limit what this patent covers.One skilled in the art will understand that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention as literally and equivalently covered by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory program storage devicecomprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processorsto: receive a telecommunications message in a wireless communicationsdevice while the device is in a first physical activity state; detect achange to a second physical activity state; and, provide a notificationof message receipt subsequent to detection of the change to the secondphysical activity state.
 2. A program storage device as recited in claim1 wherein detecting a change to a second physical activity statecomprises receiving data from at least one sensor selected from thegroup consisting of motion sensors, orientation sensors, proximitysensors and location sensors.
 3. A program storage device as recited inclaim 1 wherein the first physical activity state is substantially nomotion.
 4. A program storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein thefirst physical activity state is substantially repetitive motion.
 5. Aprogram storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second physicalactivity state is translational motion.
 6. A program storage device asrecited in claim 5 wherein the second physical activity state istranslational motion in a substantially upward direction.
 7. A programstorage device as recited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification ofmessage receipt comprises an audible alarm.
 8. A program storage deviceas recited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification of messagereceipt comprises a tactile alarm.
 9. A program storage device asrecited in claim 1 wherein providing a notification of message receiptcomprises displaying a message on a display.
 10. A program storagedevice as recited in claim 1 wherein the notification of message receiptis only provided if the message received is not acknowledged by a userof the device.
 11. A program storage device as recited in claim 8wherein the notification of message receipt is only provided if themessage received is not acknowledged by a user of the device within apreselected period of time.
 12. A non-transitory program storage devicecomprising instructions stored thereon to cause one or more processorsto: provide a first notification of a time dependent event in a personalelectronic device while the device is in a first physical activitystate; detect a change to a second physical activity state; and, providea second notification of the time dependent event subsequent todetection of the change to the second physical activity state.
 13. Anon-transitory program storage device comprising instructions storedthereon to cause one or more processors to: suppress alarms in apersonal electronic device for a certain period of time selected by auser of the device; determine a first physical activity state of thedevice; detect a change to a second physical activity state; time theduration of the second physical activity state; and, reactivate alarmsin the personal electronic device if the duration of the second physicalactivity state exceeds a preselected length.
 14. A program storagedevice as recited in claim 13 further comprising instructions to provideat least one notification of an alarm event that occurred prior to thedetection of a change to a second physical activity state subsequent tothe detection of a change to a second physical activity state.
 15. Aprocessor-based system comprising: a processor; at least one sensorresponsive to the motion of a device containing the processor and indata communication with the processor; and, a memory storinginstructions for causing the processor to receive a telecommunicationsmessage in the device while the device is in a first physical activitystate; detect a change to a second physical activity state; and, providea notification of message receipt subsequent to detection of the changeto the second physical activity state.
 16. A processor-based system asrecited in claim 15 wherein detecting a change to a second physicalactivity state comprises receiving data from at least one sensorselected from the group consisting of motion sensors, orientationsensors, proximity sensors and location sensors.
 17. A processor-basedsystem as recited in claim 15 wherein the first physical activity stateis substantially no motion.
 18. A processor-based system as recited inclaim 15 wherein the first physical activity state is substantiallyrepetitive motion.
 19. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15wherein the second physical activity state is translational motion. 20.A processor-based system as recited in claim 19 wherein the secondphysical activity state is translational motion in a substantiallyupward direction.
 21. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15wherein providing a notification of message receipt comprises an audiblealarm.
 22. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 whereinproviding a notification of message receipt comprises a tactile alarm.23. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein providing anotification of message receipt comprises displaying a message on adisplay.
 24. A processor-based system as recited in claim 15 wherein thenotification of message receipt is only provided if the message receivedis not acknowledged by a user of the device.
 25. A processor-basedsystem as recited in claim 24 wherein the notification of messagereceipt is only provided if the message received is not acknowledged bya user of the device within a preselected period of time.
 26. Aprocessor-based system comprising: a processor; at least one sensorresponsive to the motion of a personal electronic device containing theprocessor and in data communication with the processor; and, a memorystoring instructions for causing the processor to provide a firstnotification of a time dependent event in the personal electronic devicewhile the device is in a first physical activity state; detect a changeto a second physical activity state; and, provide a second notificationof the time dependent event subsequent to detection of the change to thesecond physical activity state.
 27. A processor-based system comprising:a processor; at least one sensor responsive to the motion of a personalelectronic device containing the processor and in data communicationwith the processor; and, a memory storing instructions for causing theprocessor to suppress alarms in the personal electronic device for acertain period of time selected by a user of the device; determine afirst physical activity state of the device; detect a change to a secondphysical activity state; time the duration of the second physicalactivity state; and, reactivate alarms in the personal electronic deviceif the duration of the second physical activity state exceeds apreselected length.